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GE Series: ‘Labour offer true stability and strength’

Ahead of next month’s general election, Epigram asked the University of Bristol’s politics societies to make the case for their parties. Here Liam Smyth tells us why Labour will be getting his vote…

Well that came as quite a surprise, didn’t it? Yet again, the ‘strong and stable’ Conservatives have decided to prove just how strong and stable their leadership is by dragging the country to the polls for the third time in as many years, after a succession of bad decisions have led (ironically) to some of the most destabilising and divisive governance since at least the late- seventies. Received wisdom is that Theresa May has called this election in response to the perceived electoral weakness of the Labour party. It is clear, however, that there is more at stake in this election than at any other in recent political memory – and predictions of a Tory landslide are grossly premature.

In reality, this election is all about Brexit. In effect this is our second referendum. The future prosperity, stability and, indeed, continued existence of the United Kingdom will be decided on the 8th of June. Britain is leaving the European Union – that much is true – but precisely how we leave is still to be decided.

Theresa May has claimed that she is going to the polls to secure a mandate for her adamantine Brexit, encased in a depleted uranium shell. 52 per cent of the electorate may well have voted to leave the European Union. They did not vote for economic collapse, the shredding of legislation which protects workers and the environment, or the Farage-lite xenophobia of the Conservative ‘vision’ of Brexit. The Labour party will not seek to overturn the democratic result of the referendum. Instead, it will campaign for a Brexit that works for all – students, workers, and our European friends, colleagues and neighbours.

A vote for Labour on the 8th of June is a vote for true stability, strength and internationalism. Whilst the Conservatives seek to appease the far-right of their own party, and the Lib Dems seek to overturn the referendum result, Labour will seek to govern in the interests of all. Policies such as a £10 an hour minimum wage, reversal of cuts to corporation tax, re-nationalisation of the NHS and our transport infrastructure, building affordable new homes, and free school meals for all primary school children will improve the lives of everyone living within the UK – particularly those who have been left behind by the divisive governments of Cameron, Clegg and May.

The Conservatives love to trade in soundbites: ‘Strong and Stable’ leadership, ‘Long term’ economic plans, ‘hardworking people’, and ‘coalitions of chaos’. While this may make a great drinking game (anyone who’s played Roxanne will be able to guess that a round of Tory buzzword bingo during an episode of Question Time gets messy pretty quickly) the reality in the cold light of day is rather different. Seven years of Tory rule has tripled the national debt, dragged us out of the European Union, and nearly led to the breakup of the United Kingdom – twice. If one thing is clear, it is that the politics of austerity have utterly failed, granting tax cuts to the wealthy, while working families are forced out of their homes in record numbers.

It is vital, then, that students register to vote and make sure their voices are heard. With esteemed Hillsborough survivor/academic/spaceman Paul Nuttall driving the purple banter bus, Tim ‘gay sex is a sin’ Farron flying the flag for the Lib Dems and the nasty party (ironically) back with a vengeance under May, our choice on June 8th couldn’t be clearer – a strong government, working in the interests of all under Jeremy Corbyn and Labour, or Theresa May implementing a manifesto that Farage himself would be proud of. This election is a once in a generation chance to make sure our voices are heard, and secure the future prosperity of the United Kingdom – let’s make sure the Tories can’t jeopardise that with soundbites, and work together to make June the end of May.

Check out the rest of our general election coverage across social media and on our website…

I know it’s about your reasons for voting the way you do, but it seems like it’s written for people who already agree with you rather than trying to speak to people who disagree. I’d like to see more attempts at having a nuanced discussion about these things than attempts to preach to the converted. To note a few examples:

A) You cite the £10 minimum wage a reason to vote Labour. These sound great in isolation if you’re left-minded, but how about the IFS’s criticism that a sharp increase in the minimum wage could lead to unemployment increases with businesses laying people off to absorb the cost?* You don’t note that Conservatives are expected to raise the minimum wage, albeit by less, which people might percieve as striking a balance between these concerns. If there’s a reason that the unemployment concern is unfounded and the Conservatives could do more, I think you’d speak to more people if you address it explicitly.

B) With regard to corporation tax policy, what is your opinion on the conservative mindset that we want to keep corporation tax low to make the UK a desirable place to invest? Given that economic uncertainty was a big point with regards to leaving the EU, I think a lot of people on both sides are wary of this. The IFS has also cautioned that Labour’s proposal might raise funds in the short term, but will lead to losses in revenue in the medium to long term.**

C) I realise the NHS is a hot topic, but I think that’s all the more reason for both sides of the debate to be a bit more critical. I’d like to see NHS funding increased, but I’m not really convinced that re-nationalisation is the way to go. One can find case studies in which contracting private providers has improved quality of care and lowered costs (some under Labour). Also does the call for (re-)nationalisation also extend to things like pharmacy services and opticians, who by and large are private contractors to the NHS? I rarely see people object to those.

The debate often confounds the contracting of private providers with an insurance type system (e.g. the US), and I think the Labour party are pretty lousy for using this confusion, ‘slippery slope’ type arguments and people’s affection for the NHS to their advantage***.

D) I also think your “Tim ‘gay sex is a sin’ Farron” comment is a bit hypocritical in an article in which you’re criticising the use of sound bytes. He explicitly said that wasn’t his view a couple of weeks ago****. It seems like spin/lying on your part to still suggest otherwise. If it’s about his voting record on LGBT issues, why not address those? Do you think it matters that your comment might be percieved as divisive from Lib Dem supporters who might otherwise be sympathetic to what you’re saying?